A court in Palma is investigating the leadership of PortsIB for irregularities with the buoy fields

PalmaA Palma court is investigating the leadership of PortsIB for alleged irregularities in the management of ecological buoy fields during last summer. The case stems from a complaint filed by the Prosecutor's Office in July, following a report by the Mediterranean Sailors Association (ADN Mediterráneo), against four officials of the public entity for possible crimes of embezzlement, fraud against the Administration, disobedience, and prevarication.

The court has opened preliminary proceedings and has summoned the investigated individuals to testify, who have defended that the management of the buoy fields was carried out in accordance with the law. The complainants, who have appeared in the case as private prosecutors, point to the manager of PortsIB, Francisco José Villalonga; the general director of Ports, Antoni Mercant, and two technicians from the organization. They accuse them of having promoted the installation of new ecological buoy fields even though the corresponding tender was suspended.

A tender of more than 5.8 million euros

The conflict revolves around a public contract valued at more than 5.8 million euros, which ADN Mediterráneo, together with other associations and employers' organizations, has repeatedly appealed. According to the reporting entity, PortsIB allegedly continued the administrative processing even though the Central Administrative Tribunal for Contractual Appeals had suspended the bidding. It also maintains that the body modified and extended the procedure while this suspension was in effect.

The complaint also focuses on the formalization of a minor contract to set up mooring fields in the bay of Fornells and the island of Colom, in Menorca. These facilities were included in the tender that had been suspended. For ADN Mediterráneo, this path could have implied an artificial splitting of contracts to avoid ordinary public procurement procedures.

The debate on the protection of posidonia

PortsIB has defended that the installation of buoy fields was in response to the need to protect posidonia and organize boat anchoring. The complaining association, however, considers that this argument does not justify the actions. It recalls that anchoring over this marine plant is already prohibited and that the buoy fields are only used during the summer season, between the months of June and September.

The entity maintains that the maneuver would not respond to the general interest or environmental protection, but rather to a "purely collection-driven" purpose. These statements are part of the accusations currently being investigated judicially and, for now, do not imply that any irregularities or criminal responsibilities of those investigated have been proven.